Bill Text: TX SB2020 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the creation of the criminal offense of mass terroristic threat and to the establishment of the task force on mass violence prevention.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-21 - Referred to Criminal Justice [SB2020 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-SB2020-Introduced.html
88R7833 EAS-D | ||
By: Paxton | S.B. No. 2020 |
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relating to the creation of the criminal offense of mass | ||
terroristic threat and to the establishment of the task force on | ||
mass violence prevention. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Chapter 22, Penal Code, is amended by adding | ||
Section 22.071 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 22.071. MASS TERRORISTIC THREAT. (a) A person commits | ||
an offense if the person threatens to cause mass violence to a | ||
person or property with the intent to intimidate or induce fear | ||
through the infliction of serious bodily injury on: | ||
(1) more than one specific person; or | ||
(2) the public or a substantial group of the public. | ||
(b) An offense under this section is a felony of the third | ||
degree. | ||
(c) If conduct that constitutes an offense under this | ||
section also constitutes an offense under any other law, the actor | ||
may be prosecuted under this section, the other law, or both. | ||
SECTION 2. (a) In this section, "department" means the | ||
Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas. | ||
(b) The task force on mass violence prevention is | ||
established to evaluate the policies and practices regarding the | ||
interaction between law enforcement agencies and the mental health | ||
system in relation to incidents of mass violence in this state. | ||
(c) The task force is composed of the public safety director | ||
of the department or the director's designee and the following | ||
members appointed by the director: | ||
(1) a representative of the Health and Human Services | ||
Commission; | ||
(2) a representative of the Texas Judicial Commission | ||
on Mental Health; | ||
(3) a representative of the Texas Council of Community | ||
Centers; | ||
(4) a representative of the Sheriffs' Association of | ||
Texas; and | ||
(5) a qualified forensic mental health expert | ||
certified in the evaluation of mass violence. | ||
(d) The public safety director of the department shall | ||
designate a member of the task force to serve as the presiding | ||
officer. | ||
(e) The department shall provide reasonably necessary | ||
administrative and technical support to the task force. | ||
(f) The department may accept gifts, grants, or donations on | ||
behalf of the task force to carry out the task force's duties under | ||
this section. | ||
(g) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the | ||
task force. | ||
(h) Not later than December 1, 2024, the task force shall | ||
prepare and submit a written report on the task force's activities | ||
to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house | ||
of representatives, and each standing committee of the legislature | ||
with primary jurisdiction over criminal justice and mental health | ||
matters. The report must include legislative recommendations for: | ||
(1) standardizing protocols for the reporting of, | ||
reaction to, and mitigation of the threat of mass violence; | ||
(2) aligning and coordinating laws in this state to | ||
ensure a smooth transition between the criminal justice and mental | ||
health systems; and | ||
(3) reducing incidents of mass violence in this state. | ||
(i) The task force is abolished and this section expires | ||
September 1, 2025. | ||
SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date | ||
of this Act, the public safety director of the Department of Public | ||
Safety of the State of Texas shall appoint members to the task force | ||
on mass violence prevention as required by Section 2 of this Act. | ||
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |